Around 40,000 customers were temporarily without safe drinking water Tuesday after an 18 inch water main break halted everyday activities in Okmulgee.
Mayor Steven Baldridge reported that the water line break occurred in a wetlands area near the city’s water treatment plant. The break was reportedly first detected around 4:30 a.m.
"You just never know with the earth shifting and the heating and the cooling of the earth causes these breaks, and it's just part of life, so we try to have redundant systems, and we do the best we can," said Baldridge.
All schools in Okmulgee Public Schools, OSU Institute of Technology and the Green Country Technology Center called off classes for Tuesday following the major water line break.
The Okmulgee County emergency management reports that the city was placed under a mandatory boil order following the 18 inch water main break. Later, around 9 a.m., the mandatory boil order was changed to a "boil advisory."
City crews moving pump back into heavily wooded area behind treatment plant where break happened. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/LJfIuY1UUn
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) September 13, 2016
#Okmulgee city crews moving in new pipe to replace broken one found this morning. @KJRH2HD pic.twitter.com/uiFHsWM13Q
— Will DuPree (@willrdupree) September 13, 2016
After the repairs, DEQ is scheduled to test the water Tuesday evening and the boil advisory should remain in effect for next few days.
Okmulgee's mayor went on to report that the water samples would be tested and the results are expected to be in by 4 p.m. Wednesday.
The superintendent of Okmulgee Public Schools reports that the city expects the break to be repaired in time to have classes resume on Wednesday September 14.
